Probe launched after 'ghost ship' blaze
A PROBE has been launched into the cause of a blaze on one of the so-called Ghost Ships.
Around 300 workers had to be evacuated from the Able UK site, in Graythorp, on the outskirts of Hartlepool, after part of the former French Navy aircraft carrier the Clemenceau went up in flames.
The fire, which started shortly after 9am yesterday, saw 70 people forced to flee the ship as the blaze took hold in cabling on the second deck.
More than 50 firefighters from across the Cleveland area were called to the blaze, which was quickly under control, but needed to be dowsed through the night as a precaution.
No-one was hurt during the fire, which is now being investigated by fire chiefs and Able UK staff.
The Health and Safety Executive says they are awaiting reports before they decide whether to launch their own probe.
Phil Lancaster, director of community protection at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said an off-duty firefighter was first to raise the alarm after he drove past the site and spotted the smoke.
Mr Lancaster said: "All the people were quickly accounted for and the fire was under control within 90 minutes.
"We do a lot of work in planning and preparing for incidents like this and when crews arrived we had all the information we needed. It was a first class job by Able UK.
"We will be involved with the investigation, working closely with Able UK and partner agencies."
Able UK bosses have confirmed that burning equipment is used as part of the dismantling process, but stressed that it is still unclear what started the fire.
The fire has been pinpointed as starting in some cabling on the second deck of the massive ship in an area likened to the size of two bedrooms of a house.
Neil Etherington, Able UK's group development director, told the Mail: "We do not know what caused the fire and that will be the subject of a full investigation.
"There would have been flame equipment used in the process, but it is early days to speculate on what happened.
"The first priority was the safety and wellbeing of the workers and firefighters, and thankfully nobody was injured.
"There were no hazardous materials involved and while it is clearly a very regrettable incident, there was no danger to the surrounding area and that would never be the case in any event.
"We are in the risk business and have to manage risk, which is why we do a lot of preparatory work with the fire service and other agencies.
That pays dividends as it has on this occasion."
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "We are aware of the fire and are awaiting a brief report from the company and will consider that before making a decision on whether an investigation is needed."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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